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The perfect setting

Throwing an outdoor party? Then you’ll need to spruce up your garden

Today is Midsummer's Day, and the outdoor party season is upon us - but is your garden up to scratch? There is always that awful moment of doubt after you've sent out the invitations, ordered the booze and decided on the menu for your outdoor soirée. You take a look in the garden, only to find that the cat has done a poo in the sandpit, a couple of rusted bikes are propped up against the shed and a football has demolished the few delphiniums that the slugs have left behind. Suddenly, a summer party seems like a headache - and that's before you've even hit the punch.

Throwing money at the problem always helps, but a bit of forward planning will make your cash go further. What you should aim to do is give yourself plenty of time and tackle your garden over two weekends. On the first, prepare it. On